The Henna Artist

Alka Joshi’s The Henna Artist (2020) is a historical fiction novel set in 1950s Jaipur, India, featuring Lakshmi Shastri, a courageous, independent woman who escapes an abusive marriage to become a sought-after henna artist for wealthy upper-class women. She navigates a patriarchal society, balancing her secret, independent life with her role as a trusted confidante to her elite clientele.